Sociology 302

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Sociology 302 Introduction
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• This diagram represents a theory A set of
  empirically falsifiable statements about reality.
  
• The dependent variable is the behavior, attitude,
  or condition about society that you want to
  change.
• The independent variables are potential
  explanations of the dependent variable.
• The arrows represent hypotheses, or statements
  about reality.

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• Example
• Dependent variable Rate of juvenile delinquency.
• Independent variables quality of parenting,
  quality of the neighborhood.
• Hypothesis 1 The lower the quality of parenting,
  the greater the rate of juvenile delinquency.
• Hypothesis 2 The lower the quality of the
  neighborhood, the greater the rate of juvenile
  delinquency.

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Quality of the Neighborhood

• Measurement
• To test an hypothesis, we need to measure each of
  the variables in our hypothesis.
• Example The lower the quality of the
  neighborhood the greater the rate of juvenile
  delinquency.
• Possible measures of the